The President of Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation (OEB), George Pantelides , characterises the upcoming BusinessEurope Presidents' Summit in Nicosia as an excellent opportunity to present Cyprus as a reliable, stable and active partner on the European business scene, highlighting the multiplier benefits for the country in an interview with InBusinessNews.
According to Pantelides, the timing of the Summit is also critical, as it takes place just a few weeks before the assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the EU.
As he characteristically states, "the opportunity to present the priorities, achievements and prospects of the Cypriot economy to leading employer organisations from 36 countries strengthens the country's international profile and contributes to building trust and partnerships."
At the same time, and after referring to the agenda of the Summit, the President of OEB also highlights the benefits of the Organisation's participation in BusinessEurope, emphasising - among other things - that "OEB's presence in BusinessEurope essentially strengthens the voice of Cyprus on all issues related to employment, entrepreneurship and competitiveness at the European level."
It is noted that the Summit of Presidents of BusinessEurope Member Organisations will be held in Nicosia on 20 and 21 November 2025, with the main proceedings being hosted at the Hilton Nicosia.
The Summit
Mr. Pantelides, in a few days Cyprus will host the Summit of the Presidents of BusinessEurope Member Organisations . When and where will the Summit take place?
The BusinessEurope Presidents' Summit will be held in Nicosia on 20 and 21 November 2025, with the main proceedings hosted at the Hilton Nicosia.
At the same time, OEB has scheduled a series of official events, the highlight of which is a reception at the Presidential Palace in the presence of the President of the Republic, members of the Council of Ministers and other officials.
The presence of the state leadership underlines the importance of the Summit for Cyprus.
How important do you consider the organisation of this Summit to be for our country, but also for OEB?
The organisation of the BusinessEurope Presidents' Summit is an event of utmost importance for both Cyprus and OEB.
For our country, this is an excellent opportunity to present itself as a reliable, stable and active partner on the European business scene. The timing is also crucial, as the Summit is taking place just a few weeks before the assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the EU.
It provides the opportunity to present the priorities, achievements and prospects of the Cypriot economy to leading employer organisations from 36 countries, enhances the country's international profile and contributes to building trust and partnerships.
For OEB, hosting the Summit acts as a practical recognition of its work and credibility in the European environment. It also creates the conditions for more direct and meaningful communication with counterparts across Europe, allowing for the exchange of knowledge, the resolution of common problems and the highlighting of issues concerning the EU economies and its businesses.
The agenda
What is expected to be discussed during the Summit? Will any decisions be taken?
The Summit will focus on a number of key issues that are at the heart of the current European economic agenda.
Among other things, the Presidents of the employers' organisations will discuss:
- The need to reduce bureaucracy, enhance competitiveness and reduce energy costs. Excessive regulatory burden is one of the most important inhibiting factors for EU competitiveness.
Ways of simplifying procedures, reducing unnecessary regulations and, by extension, harmonising relevant legislation will be examined to facilitate business activity in all member states.
- Shipping and global challenges. Shipping is a pillar of the European and Cypriot economy. Discussions will cover geopolitical turmoil, the reshuffle in global transport networks, as well as the obligations arising from the green transition - such as the requirement for zero emissions and the pressures to adopt new technologies.
The Council of Presidents is the central forum where the strategic direction of BusinessEurope is determined.
The results of the discussion are adopted as a line of intervention towards the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council and the other institutions.
The benefits
With regard to the organisation of the Summit, how important do you consider the fact OEB is a member of BusinessEurope?
OEB's participation in BusinessEurope has multiple strategic values. Firstly, it ensures that Cyprus is represented in the most powerful business lobbies in Europe.
BusinessEurope participates in all major European legislative processes and exerts significant influence on policies related to the economy, energy, trade, the labor market and the green transition.
Additionally, OEB gains access to timely and analytical information on upcoming developments, enabling it to position itself in a timely manner and prepare the Cypriot business community.
OEB's participation in BusinessEurope also strengthens OEB's role within Cyprus, as it allows it to transfer best practices, compare policies and assess how other economies are addressing common challenges.
How does our participation in the Federation strengthen the country's voice on labour and business issues at a European level?
OEB's presence in BusinessEurope substantially strengthens the voice of Cyprus on all issues concerning employment, entrepreneurship and competitiveness at the European level.
Through our active participation in committees, working groups and consultations, OEB conveys Cypriot positions in a timely manner and contributes to the formulation of policies that affect the daily lives of businesses.
At the same time, participation in a European coalition such as BusinessEurope, with such great influence, in which I am one of the Vice-Presidents, strengthens our country's negotiating power, as it allows a small economy like Cyprus to effectively promote its particularities and needs through a powerful mechanism.
Specifically, I would like to mention that last June, I participated in a meeting of the organisation's leadership with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, during which I had the opportunity to express OEB's positions on improving business practices and strengthening the competitiveness of the European economic environment.
In this way, Cyprus ensures that decisions made in Brussels also take into account its own priorities.
(Source: InBusinessNews)
